Mechanical Stress Effects on the Cardiovascular Adaptations of Peripheral Arterial Calcifications Among Athletes

Morphological, Biomechanical and Functional Properties of the Arterial Wall of Athletes: Impact and Consequences of Mechanical Stress on the Cardiovascular Adaptations of Peripheral Arterial Calcifications

The main objective of this study is to obtain data for the integrated analysis of morphological, functional and biomechanical parameters pertaining to lower limb arteries in various categories of elite athletes (without cardiovascular risk and practicing high- or low-impact aerobic activities which preferentially implicate lower limb activity) as compared to (each other and to) sedentary controls.

Secondary objectives of this study are:

A. Determine the presence and extent of intima-media calcifications in athletes B. Determine the relationship between these calcifications and the level, length and intensity of sports activity.

C. Determine the relationship between these properties and calcification of the arterial wall D. Analyze the relationship between the type of sports activity and properties of the arterial wall.

E. Examine the relationship between the properties of the arterial wall and peripheral perfusion pressures.

F. Examine the relationship between the properties of the arterial wall, changes in afterload, morphology and systolic heart function.

G. Analyze the relationships between the parameters characterizing the arterial wall and muscle mass of the lower limbs.

H. Analyze the relationship between the presence of intramural calcification and bone density determined by densitometry.

I. Analyze the relationship between the presence of intramural calcification and dietary protein intake and calcium.

J. Compare indices of pressure at the ankle and toe, depending on the extent of calcification.

K. Create a collection of biological samples (serum).

Inclusion Criteria for athletic and sedentary volunteers:

• The volunteer must have given his/her informed and signed consent
• The volunteer must be insured or beneficiary of a health insurance plan
• Volunteers without cardiovascular disease, glucose regulation disorders or known renal disease

Inclusion Criteria for athletic volunteers only:

• Ongoing athletic activity for the past 10 years
• Athletic activity at the regional level for the past 5 years
• Practices one of the three following sports: marathon, trail running, cycling.

Exclusion Criteria for athletic and sedentary volunteers:

• The volunteer is participating in another study
• The volunteer is in an exclusion period determined by a previous study
• The volunteer is under judicial protection, under tutorship or curatorship
• The volunteer refuses to sign the consent
• It is impossible to correctly inform the volunteer
• The volunteer is pregnant, parturient, or breastfeeding
• Tobacco use
• Contraindications for the practice of physical activity (joint, heart or other)
• Intercurrent pathology
• First degree family history of cardiovascular disease
• Known dyslipidemia (including cholesterol)
• Glucose tolerance abnormalities (prediabetes or diabetes)
• Treatment with certain drugs used for treating erectile dysfunction: Sildefanil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra) and yohimbine (Yohimbine Houde and Yocoral)

Exclusion Criteria for sedentary volunteers only:

• More than two hours of athletic activity per week
• History of intense athletic training
• Body mass index >= 25 kg/m^2